Latch construction



LATCH CONSTRUCTION 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1952 in 1/22: a 14ll/z'llz'a m 0311 rlz Feb. 28, 1956 w. 0. BYURKE 2,736,596

LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United tatesPatent p LATCH CONSTRUCTION William 0. Burke, Rockford, Ill., assignorto National Lock Company, Rockford, 111., a corporation of DelawareApplication December 4, 1952, Serial No. 324,088

4 Claims. (Cl. 292-332) The present invention relates to a latchconstruction and more particularly to a novel latch assembly for thedoor .or closure of a refrigerator cabinet or the. like re quiringlatching mechanism that is durableand. positive in operation and whentripped upon closing the door draws the door into tight sealingengagement and maintains it closed, yet permits its manual opening witha r minimum of effort.

An important object of the present invention. is the provision of anovel latch assembly in which the latch bolt. is automatically moved tococked position upon opening of the door or closure, and which when thedoor is moved to closed position elfects positive latching with a strikehook or keeper on the cabinet.

A further object of the present invention is the pro.-. vision in alatch construction of a novel tripping mecha-- nism that assurespositive and quick release of the latch bolt when the door is to beopened, and positive latching; and sealing engagement of its gasket withthe cabinet when the door is moved to closed position.

The present invention further comprehends. a latch assembly providedwith a novel cooperating latch bolt 'andpanying drawings a preferredembodiment, it-is,tof-be understood that the same is susceptible ofmodification, and change and comprehends other details, arrangements ofparts, features and constructions without departing; from the spirit ofthe invention. 1 v 7 I In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a refrigerator or the like the doorof which is provided with the novel. latch construction. 1

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view in horizontal cross sectionthrough the door or closure of the refrigerator or the like and throughthe novel latch assembly, the latch construction and the strike hook orkeeper mounted on the cabinet of the refrigerator being shown in theirclosed and latched position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view similar to Fig. 2 but showing thedoor or closure partially open and the latch construction in its normal,cocked position ready to be tripped as the door or closure is movedtoward closed and latched position, the novel latch construction beingautomatically moved to such cocked position when the door or closure isopened. 7

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the po sition assumed bythe novel latch mechanism as the door or closure is being opened and thelatch mechanism'is' automatically moved to cocked position.

Fig.5 is a fragmentary enlarged view in sideelevatiod 2: j of the lowerend-of the latch handle and. showing the manner of; itsengagementwiththe actuating plunger for releasing the latch bolt. Y

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the irregular line 6 -6of Fig.2.

. -Fig. 7- is a cross sectional view taken on the irregular line 7-7 ofFig. 2.

Referring to the disclosure in the drawings and more particularly to theillustrative embodiment of the novel latch-zconstruction, the presentinvention is shown in Figs. .1-to 4,ainclusive, as mounted in the dooror closure.

10 of a cabinet 11 for a refrigerator or the like, the latch assemblybeing positioned adjacent a'vertical edge 12 of the-door or closurehinged or swingably mounted in any suitablemanneralong its othervertical edge 13. Along the edge of the door orclosure-there is provideda sealing: stripor gasket '14 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) adapted to engage andseal against azface 15 of the side or door jamb 16 of the cabinetllwhich defines or encompasses the usual refrigerating compartmentinthis cabinet.

"Mounted in the. side or :door jamb 16 of the cabinet is a-"support 17and an angle bracket 18 for adjustably but 'securely mountingandretaining a strike hook or keeper" 19 in its adjusted, operativeposition, the strike hook or; keeper projecting outwardly and forwardlythrough an' opening inthe jamb 16 of the cabinet and toward the door-orclosure'l l, with-its projected latching end provided with a latchengaging face or ledge 21 and an incli'ne'd'or tapered surface-22'. Thedoor or closure 10:?is'showi1 provided with-spacedtinner and outer Walls23' and 24 ofgsuitablesh'eet'metalor the like with the innernWall1-23provided; with a' grommet '25 defining an opening :26 for receivingthe-forwardly projecting or latching, end ,of thestrike hook or keeper19 when the door; is in closed or substantially closed position.

Asshown more particularlyin Figs, 2, 3 and 4, the novel latchconstruction for latching engagement with thestrike hook-or; keeper;19is mounted in the interior or hollow of-thedoor or closure 10 upon asubstantially U- shaped housing 27 rigidly secured or fixed to aninturned flange 28 on'the interior of the door or closure by a pair ofoutwardly projecting ears -or projections 29 (Fig. 7) eachextendingfroma spaced side wall 31 of the housing, and a. base 32 rigidlysecured oraflixed to the inner face of the outer wall 24. of the door or closure10, the oppositely disposed ears-or projections 29 and the base 32 beingretained inlfiir'ed positionbybolts or other suitable attaching means33.. .The side Walls 31fof the'hou'sing are joined by 'a connecting or,rear wall 34. 1 I

The .latch mechanism comprisesabolt operating cam 35 and latch bolt 36,both movably or 'rotatably mounted within the housing 27. The boltoperating cam 35 is formed or provided with spaced sidewalls 37 joinedby a connecting wall-38 with .each'side wall provided with an arcuateslot 39 adjacent one end,' through which aligned and spaced slotsprojects a'rivet or pin 41 having each of itsop'pos'ite ends anchored ina projection 42 in a side wall 31 of the bolt housing 27. Each side wallis also provided with an approximately kidney-shaped slot 43 disposed inspaced, aligned relation'with a rivet or pin 44 bridging these spacedside walls 37. This rivet or pin 44 carries anenlargement or collar 45and a roller 46 adjacent the collar (Fig. 6). A rivet or pin 47 similarto the rivet or pin 41 and having its opposite ends anchored in thespaced side walls 31 of the housing '27, carries a pair of encompassingspring spacers 48 and provides a pivotal mounting for the bolt operatingcam 35 within the housing 27. The opposite side walls 37 of the boltoperating cam 35 are laterally offset at 49.

The latch bolt 36 has spaced sides or side walls 51 with oneehd52 ofeach-sidebeing-pivotally mounted upon the rivet or pin-41 and at itsother end provided with an up- Pat ented Feb. 28, 1956- standing andlaterally offset projection 53 carrying a roller pin 54 anchored at itsopposite ends in these offset projections and carrying a roller 55providing a latch member for engagement with the strike hook or keeper19. The side walls 51 are joined by spaced connecting walls 56 and 57 atthe base of the latch bolt, the wall 57 being provided with a downwardlyand outwardly bent lip 58 adapted to engage or contact the rounded outerface 59 of the strike hook or keeper 19 when the cocked latch mechanismis about to be tripped as'the door 19 is being moved to closed position(Fig. 3).

A relatively heavy coil spring 61 encompasses the spring spacers 43having one end 62 anchored in an opening 63 in the rear or connectingwall 34 of the housing 27 and its other end 64 bearing against thecollar 45 on the rivet or pin 44.

The bolt or latch member 36 is spring-loaded and biased or rotated in aclockwise direction toward its elevated position by a coil spring 65encompassing the rivet or pin and having one end 66 bearing against therear or connecting wall 34 of the housing 27 and its other end 67hearing against the end of the connecting wall 56 at the base of thelock or latch bolt 36.

Carried by the latch bolt 36 is a rivet or pin 68 With the ends thereofprojecting through the side walls 51 ino the confines of thekidney-shaped slots 43 and thereat each end carries a roller 69 guidedwithin these slots from the cocked position of the latch or lock bolt 36(Figs. 3 and 4) to its uncocked or locked position (Fig. 2). In thecocked and uncocked or locked positions these rollers 69 are disposedand retained in the recessed ends of the slots 43 at it? or 70respectively.

To permit opening of the door or closure 10 from its locked position(Fig. 2), the door or closure is provided with an operating handle 71(Figs. 1 and pivotally mounted upon a rivet or pin 72 and provided withan embossment 73 hearing against the extended end of a plunger 74slidably mounted in a sleeve-like member 75. The inner, enlarged end 76of this plunger is adapted to bear against the roller 46 on the pin orrivet 44 and when the,

door 1% is in closed position with the roller 55 on the latch bolt 36engaging the face 21 of the strike hook or keeper 19, an outward pull onthe upper end of the handle 71 depresses or forces the plunger 74inwardly causing the enlarged end 76 thereof to press against the roller46 (Fig. 6) and pivot the bolt or latch operating cam 35 about its pivotpin 47. Such movement releases the rollers 69 on the ends of the pin orrivet 68 carried by the latch bolt 36 from the rear or inner end of theslots 43 and the biasing of the coil spring 65 and the pulling effort onthe handle 71 causes the latch bolt to pivot in a clockwise directionabout its pivot pin 41 to withdraw the roller 55 from the strike hook orkeeper 19 and move this bolt to its cocked position (Figs. 3 and 4)where the rollers 69 are moved to and seat in the forward end or recess70 of the slots 43.

When in cocked position and the door is open, moving the door towardclosed position causes the lip or tongue 58 to engage the rounded face59 of the strike hook or keeper 1.9 (Fig. 3) thereby depressing androtating the latch bolt 36 in a counter-clockwise direction to force orwithdraw the rollers 69 from the forward or outer end of the slots 43and the latching roller 55 into engagement with the face 21 of thestrike hook or keeper. Simultaneously, the heavy coil spring 61 rotatesor move the latch operating cam 35 about its pivot pin 47 in acounterclockwise direction from the outer or forward end to the innerend or rear of the slots 39. In this latter position the roller 46 isdisposed adjacent the enlarged end 76 of the plunger 7 i for subsequentrelease to open the door or closure 1t", and the rollers 69 are disposedin the inner end or rear recess 76 of the slots 43 (Fig. 2).

The rollers 46 and 55 and the spacers 48 are preferably of nylon orother long-wearing composition.

From the above description and the disclosure in the drawings, it willbe apparent that the present invention ll comprehends a novel latchassembly that is of a simplified and durable construction, one that iseasily and readily opened and closed, and one that effects and assurespositive sealing when the door or closure is moved to closed position.

Having thus disclosed the invention, 1 claim:

1. In a latch construction for retaining a refrigerator door in closedand sealed relation with a cabinet for a refrigerator and the like andwhen the door is opened the latch construction is automatically moved tococked position ready to be tripped to latch onto a keeper on thecabinet when the door is closed, a latch assembly arranged within thehollow of the door and comprising a housing mounted in fixed position inthe door, a spring-loaded latch bolt cam pivotally mounted intermediateits ends in the housing and provided with spaced side walls eachprovided with a slot having a recessed portion at its opposite ends, anda second slot spaced from said first mentioned slot, 21 substantiallyU-shaped and spring-loaded latch bolt carried within and movablerelative to the latch bolt cam and pivotally mounted adjacent one end inthe housing and at its other end carrying a roller for latchingengagement with the keeper, a pin projecting through the secondmentioned slot of the latch bolt cam upon which the latch bolt ispivotally mounted and having its ends anchored in the housing, a pinaffixed to and carried by the latch bolt intermediate its ends and aroller on each end of said pin and at the opposite sides of the latchbolt with said rollers conformably received within and guided by saidfirst mentioned slots in the side walls of the latch bolt cam formaintaining the latch bolt in cocked position when the rollers aredisposed in one end of said slots and in uncocked or latched positionwhen said rollers are in the other end of said slots.

2. In a latch assembly adapted to be mounted within the closure of acabinet for a refrigerator and the like and adapted for latchingengagement with a strike hook on the cabinet, a stationary housing inthe closure and a latch bolt cam and a latch bolt each swingably mountedin the housing upon separate pivots and capable of relative movementtherebetween, said latch bolt cam having spaced side walls each providedwith an arcuate slot with these slots disposed in alignment, atransverse pin carried by the housing and projecting through the alignedarcuate slots upon which the latch bolt is pivotally mounted and anotherslot in each side wall of the latch bolt cam, and a pair of rollersaffixed to and carried by the latch bolt with a roller disposed at eachside of the latch bolt and said rollers conformably received and guidedin each of said last mentioned slots, said last mentioned slots eachprovided with a recess adjacent its opposite ends for receiving andretaining the rollers and latch bolt in cocked or in uncocked andlatched position.

3. In a latch construction for retaining a door closed and in sealedrelation with a refrigerator cabinet and the like and when the door isopened the latch is automatically moved to cocked position ready to betripped to engage a keeper when the door is again closed, a latchassembly including a latch bolt adapted to engage the keeper and drawand maintain the door in closed position, a latch bolt cam and astationary housing in which the latch bolt cam' and the latch bolt areseparately and pivotally mounted, said latch bolt cam having spacedsides and said latch bolt being disposed within said spaced sides andmovable relative to the latch bolt cam and pivotally mounted adjacentone end in the housing and adjacent its other end carrying a roller forlatching engagement with the keeper and a tongue spaced from the rollerfor engaging the keeper to trip the latch bolt as the door is beingclosed, means for spring-biasing said latch bolt and said latch bolt camfor swinging movement about their pivots, a transverse pin afiixed toand carried by the latch bolt intermediate its pivotal mounting and thelatching roller, and a roller on each end of said transverse pin and ateach side of said latch bolt and each roller seating and conformablyreceived and guided in a slot in each of the spaced side walls of thelatch bolt cam, each of said slots having an offset at its opposite endsto receive and retain the rollers and latch bolt in cocked or uncookedand latched positions.

4. In a latch construction for retaining a refrigerator door in closedand sealed relation with a cabinet and when the door is opened the latchconstruction is automatically moved to cocked position ready to betripped into latching engagement with a keeper when the door is closed,a latch assembly comprising a housing mounted in fixed position in thedoor, a latch bolt cam pivotally mounted in the housing and providedwith spaced side walls each having spaced and aligned arcuate slots withone pair of aligned slots having an offset adjacent each of its ends, asubstantially U-shaped latch bolt carried within and movable relative tothe latch bolt cam, a pin carried by the housing and passing through thesecond pair of slots in the side walls of the latch bolt cam providing apivot adjacent one end about which the latchbolt swings, a spring forbiasing the latch bolt in a clockwise direction, a spring for biasingthe latch bolt cam in a counter-clockwise direction, and a pin afiixedto and carried by the latch bolt and provided with a roller at each endof the last mentioned pin and at each side of the latch bolt with theserollers disposed in the first pair of arcuate slots in the side walls ofthe latch bolt cam for maintaining the latch bolt in cocked positionwhen said rollers are disposed in the ofiset in one end of said slotsand in latched position when said rollers are in the otfset in the otherend of said slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,341,416 Anderson et al Feb. 8, 1944 2,359,150 Peglow Sept. 26, 19442,444,180 Anderson June 29, 1948 2,679,425 Johnson May 25, 1954

